Lunch - Life in Aggieland: Past, Present, Future

Charles “Chuck” Hinton Jr. received two degrees from Texas A&M: a bachelor’s degree in business in 1976 and an MBA in 1978. After a successful career in natural gas exploration/drilling/production, Hinton became involved with the Center for New Ventures and Entrepreneurship (CNVE) as a volunteer mentor working with entrepreneurial students ...

Charles “Chuck” Hinton Jr. received two degrees from Texas A&M: a bachelor’s degree in business in 1976 and an MBA in 1978. After a successful career in natural gas exploration/drilling/production, Hinton became involved with the Center for New Ventures and Entrepreneurship (CNVE) as a volunteer mentor working with entrepreneurial students at Startup Aggieland, the Texas A&M student business accelerator. While leading efforts to recruit and train mentors for student programs, Hinton developed a deep understanding and appreciation for the Startup Aggieland Lean Launch Methodology for business model validation.

Hinton joined the staff of CNVE in July, 2015, as the director for the National Science Foundation (NSF) Innovation Corps (I-CorpsTM) program. I-Corps is a public-private partnership program that solicits three-member teams – composed of an academic researcher, a student entrepreneur and an industry mentor – to participate in an intensive seven-week program to determine commercialization opportunities for their innovations – using the same principals applied in the Startup Aggieland Lean Launch Methodology.

Hinton leads the CNVE efforts as part of the Southwest I-Corps Node, one of seven national partnerships of universities funded by NSF to support I-Corps expansion. Texas A&M University, along with UT-Austin, Rice University and Texas Tech University, share responsibilities for promotion of this high-impact program and recruitment of I-Corps Team applicants. To date, I-Corps has trained more than 500 teams nationwide, many of which have efficiently determined a pathway through which to commercialize their NSF-funded innovations.

“Chuck’s efforts for the CNVE will focus first on recruitment and preparation of Texas A&M teams for enrollment in this elite program,” said Blake Petty, CNVE director and a National I-Corps faculty member. “He’ll then be responsible for expanding I-Corps participation throughout the Texas A&M System, around the state, and ultimately, across the southwestern U.S.”

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This will be a special luncheon as the Houston Aggie Women enter their 12th year of networking and spreading the Aggie Spirit. Former Yell Leader Chuck Hinton ’76will join us for a bit of a trip down memory lane, sharing a little about his personal observations of Life in Aggieland, past and present. Looking toward the future, Chuck has some great success stories about his current dream job at the Center for New Ventures and Entrepreneurship asDirector for the National Science Foundation Innovation Corps (I-Corps) program.

We’ll be collecting women’s professional attire for donation to Dress for Success Houston. Take this opportunity to clean out your closet and benefit women in need of a little help to achieve their goals. Bring clean interview-appropriate attire on hangers to the November and December Networking Luncheons. All sizes welcome.

And as if that weren’t enough to convince you that this is a not-to-be-missed luncheon – just before Chuck begins his talk, we’ll have him pick the winner of this month’sDoor Prize – a pair of Kendra Scott earrings!

Be sure to bring an extra business card to toss into that Door Prize drawing.

Afraid you won't know anyone there? Bring a friend!

These Reveille Club events, sponsored by Houston Aggie Women, are OPEN TO ALL - men and women, Aggies and Non-Aggies - anyone needing a little boost.

Can't find a friend to bring? Don't worry! In a room full of friendly Aggies, you're bound to find a conversation to join. And with our wide range of Class Years, you'll probably find someone with a Class Ring just like yours.